Thilko Limbeck🇩🇪

About Thilko Limbeck

Staff Product Designer | Design Systems at sipgate

I’m Thilko — a staff product designer who leads design systems. As my name suggests, I grew up in rural East Frisia, but design took me through Cologne, Paris and Stockholm before I ran my own studio for two years. I joined sipgate in Düsseldorf in 2018 and co-founded its design system in 2020; I’ve led it ever since, and today it’s the backbone for 10 product teams.

Book me if you want to talk about design systems: how to start one, how to earn adoption when you can’t mandate it, how to get tokens and accessibility into the foundations, or how to work with engineers rather than hand off to them. I also do portfolio and CV reviews, and I’m happy to talk through a career decision you’re stuck on. I teach interface design at an online university, so I’m used to giving direct, specific feedback rather than vague encouragement.

Expertise

Sessions with Thilko Limbeck

• Mentorship Session (30 min): Mentorship session

What mentees say

“I had 3 amazing sessions with Thilko, where he helped me improve my resume, gave detailed feedback on my portfolio, and provided moral support during my job search. Thilko took time out of his day to provide detailed, nuanced feedback that was immediately actionable. There were multiple improvements that I hadn't even registered, showcasing Thilko's dedication and attention to detail.”

“Thilko gives great portfolio feedback. He is very detail-oriented, and takes his time while critiquing each case study. I highly recommend Thilko for anyone who is looking to improve their portfolio.”

“I had a great session with Thilko Limbeck—he was warm, positive, and incredibly motivational. We connected over our design backgrounds and had a thoughtful conversation about where the industry is and where it's headed. He gave me valuable, actionable feedback on my portfolio that I’ll be applying. I loved his advice on writing without LLMs, mentoring, and even teaching as ways to grow.”